At the Kamakura Goryō Shrine, the annual Menkakegyoretsu (Masked Parade) is held, in prayer of a rich harvest, fortune and protection from disaster/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1209180030/

September 19, 2012

A masked group marches in the Menkakegyoretsu=Kamakura City

On the 18th, from the Goryō Shrine in Saka No Shita, Kamakura City, the annual Menkakegyoretsu (Masked Parade) was held. Wearing masks that included the Oni and Okame, a group of ten slowly marched the streets. Over one hundred shrine parishioners followed closely. The event is held to appeal for a rich harvest, the invitation of good fortune and the removal of disasters.

Being a part of the shrine's annual festival, the Menkakegyoretsu has been designated as an invaluable cultural asset of the prefecture. The event recognizes the anniversary of Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa's death, a warrior of the Heian Period whose family were pioneers of Kamakura City.

The large crowds were grateful for the parade, as there was a concern that it might be halted due to the possibility of rainfall ruining the wooden masks.

Original text:
鎌倉御霊神社で恒例の面掛行列、除災招福と五穀豊穣を祈願／神奈川
2012年9月19日

面掛衆が練り歩いた面掛行列＝鎌倉市

鎌倉市坂ノ下の御（ご）霊（りょう）神社（小林孝男宮司）で１８日、恒例の面（めん）掛（かけ）行列が行われた。鬼やおかめなど１０の面をつけた面掛衆と氏子ら１００人以上が近くの通りをゆっくりと練り歩き、除災招福と五穀豊（ほう）穣（じょう）を祈った。
 　
同神社の例大祭の神事で、県の指定無形文化財。鎌倉開拓の祖と伝えられる平安時代の武士、鎌倉権（ごん）五（ご）郎（ろう）景（かげ）正（まさ）の命日に毎年、行われている。
 　
雨で木製の面がぬれるため中止の懸念もあったが、出発時にはやみ、大勢の観光客らを喜ばせた。